The one constant at Disney destinations is change! In the early days of Disneyland® Park, Walt was famously quoted talking about the future of the park:

“Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”

Walt Disney

2019 will be no different for Disney destinations – adding new and limited-time shows, parties, experiences, resorts, restaurants and lands across their properties! We’re excited about what’s to come in 2019 and wanted to share some of our favorites.

New Walt Disney World® Resort Hotel Accommodations

In July of 2019, the reimagining of Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort will end with the opening of the Gran Destino Tower. The tower will serve as the main entrance for the resort and will add 545 new guest rooms and a new rooftop table service dining option called Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood. The existing 1,800+ rooms at the resort are already fully updated and are getting rave reviews from our guests! Also projected to open in Fall of 2019 is Disney’s Riviera Resort, inspired by the European grandeur Walt Disney experienced in his travels along the Mediterranean coastline.

Experience Storybook Dining at Artist Point

There’s a new Character Dining option at the Walt Disney World® Resort, and it may just be the “fairest one of all!” Storybook Dining at Artist Point is now open at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge each night for dinner. Characters encounters during the experience include Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy, and The Queen. Current pricing is $55 for adults and $33 for children ages 3-9 (plus tax and gratuity). The restaurant features a prix fixe menu from which each guest will receive one of each appetizer, their choice of entrée, and one of each dessert as well as their choice of non-alcoholic fountain beverage. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty beverages are available but not included. This is bound to be a hit!

Disney Skyliner

Set to open in Fall of 2019, the Disney Skyliner will take guests up, up and away as they travel throughout the resort! The state-of-the-art gondola system will connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios® and Epcot® to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort which is still in construction.

Celebrate Mickey & Minnie's 90th!

Disney destinations around the World will shine the spotlight on Mickey & Minnie’s 90th with special celebrations unique to each location. At the Walt Disney World® Resort, Magic Kingdom® Park will host Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration from Jan. 18 to Sept. 30, 2019. You’ll find new food, merchandise and entertainment, including a new dance party with Mickey, Minnie and their friends, and a chance to meet Mickey and Minnie together in their new birthday outfits! At the Disneyland® Resort, Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration will bring new entertainment, food and merchandise to the resort. Starting Jan. 18, “Mickey’s Mix Magic” will light up the night at Disneyland® Park with all-new music, projections and lasers that set the scene for an epic dance party that takes over almost the entire park. Then on Jan. 25, fan-favorite Mickey’s Soundsational Parade returns to Disneyland® Park featuring an all-new float with Mickey himself! And on the high seas, Disney Cruise Line will launch Mickey & Minnie Surprise Party at Sea, an all-new high-energy deck party on the Disney Fantasy during Summer 2019 sailings.

30th Anniversary of Disney's Hollywood Studios®

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® on May 1st, an all-new cinematic nighttime experience called “Wonderful World of Animation” is scheduled to debut. With the help of state-of-the-art projection technology, the show is said to take guests on a magical journey through more than 90 years of Disney animation, all beginning with Mickey!

Pixar Additions at Disney's Hollywood Studios®

Pixar pals are doing their part to ensure the 30th Anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios® will be blockbuster! Beginning Jan. 18, Pixar Place will transform into a Municiberg city block from Pixar’s Incredibles films giving guests a chance to meet Edna Mode and celebrate the heroic deeds of Mr. Incredible, Mrs. Incredible and Frozone during a party featuring lively music, dancing, interactive games and lots more Super fun. Also starting Jan. 18, Mike and Sulley from Pixar’s Monsters, Inc return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios® inside Walt Disney Presents. And in spring 2019, a new show experience called Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will speed into the park. This untold story of Lightning McQueen … as told by Lightning McQueen will welcome guests to the world of Pixar’s Cars films and lets them learn from his years of experience on the track.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Set to open in fall 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is an all-new attraction using breakthrough technology to transform a two-dimensional cartoon into an amazing real-world experience. This will be the first-ever ride-through attraction themed to Mickey Mouse!

Celebrate 25 Years of 'The Lion King'

Each day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park from Jan. 18 to Sep. 30, join the fun at the “Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party.” Timon and Rafiki will engage everyone in entertaining dances and games inspired by “The Lion King,” as wildly talented musicians provide the perfect soundtrack in a World Beat style.

Experience the Festivals of Epcot®

Festive fun returns to Epcot® throughout 2019, beginning with the Epcot® International Festival of the Arts, Jan. 18-Feb. 25, followed by the Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival, returning Mar. 6-Jun. 3. New this year, both the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and the Garden Rocks Concert Series will expand to seven days a week during the festivals! Stay tuned for details on the 2019 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival and the 2019 Epcot® International Festival of the Holidays.

Bid Farewell to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

After nearly 20 years of delighting Epcot® guests, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth will be ending in the second half of 2019 to make way for an all-new nighttime spectacular. Because that new show isn’t planned to debut until 2020, there will be a limited-time experience called Epcot® Forever that will start in fall 2019. Set to classic Epcot® tunes, the show begins with a spark of imagination that quickly grows into an epic spectacle of fireworks, music, lighting, lasers, and choreographed, special effects kites.

Enjoy New Additions at Disney Springs™

The offerings at Disney Springs™ in the Walt Disney World® Resort are constantly changing to ensure it remains a one-of-a-kind retail, dining and entertainment district. In summer of 2019, City Works Eatery & Pour House will open offering a massive, constantly rotating draft selection of local, regional, and global craft brews complemented by classic American cuisine with chef-driven twists. Also slated to open in summer 2019, NBA Experience will bring NBA moments to life through thrilling basketball activities and interactive exhibitions.

Explore New Locations with Adventures by Disney®

In 2019, Adventures by Disney® will expand their line-up of Short Escape vacations (two- to four-night adventures) by adding itineraries for Boston, London and Vancouver, Canada. Also in 2019, a new 11-day itinerary in Japan will be added called Journey to The Land of the Rising Sun. These new options join an existing portfolio of more than 50 award-winning, world-class family vacations across six continents!

Disney California Adventure® Food & Wine Festival

The Disney California Adventure® Food & Wine Festival will return to the Disneyland® Resort from Mar. 1 through Apr. 23, 2019. This eight-week celebration of California-inspired cuisines is sure to delight seasoned foodies and culinary newbies alike . More than a dozen delicious Festival Marketplaces will feature small plates, specialty wines and craft beers.

Additional Fun on Pixar Pier

Since its opening in June, guests have fallen in love with Pixar Pier inside Disney California Adventure® Park. In 2019, additional stories and characters of Disney•Pixar films will come to life when Pixar Pier welcomes two additional attractions to complete the land: Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind and Jessie’s Critter Carousel!

New Dining Options in Downtown Disney® District

The Downtown Disney® District is in the middle of an exciting, promenade-wide transformation. In 2018, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the Disney Home store, The Disney Dress Shop and Salt & Straw scoop shop were added along with a reimagined design for the World of Disney store. In 2019, Ballast Point brewery and Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes will be added to Downtown Disney® District’s already impressive list of offerings.

Beloved Disneyland® Park Attraction Anniversaries

We all have those Disney Park attractions that we hold near and dear to our heart. In 2019, several beloved Disneyland® Park attractions will celebrate milestone anniversaries! Why not plan on being there in person to celebrate?

Disney Cruise Line Sets Sail For Fun and Adventure

Disney Cruise Line will call on seven new ports in Europe for the first time in 2019, including Gothenburg and Nynashamn (Stockholm), Sweden; Toulon (Provence) and Brest, France; Cartagena, Spain; Fredericia, Denmark; and Belfast, Northern Ireland. Also, they will offer several itineraries with 2 stops at their private island, Disney Castaway Cay! And fans can rejoice in the news that the always-popular Star Wars™ Day at Sea and Marvel Day at Sea will return to select sailings in 2019 as well.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Last but certainly not least, is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This epic, new land is scheduled to open in Disneyland® Park in summer 2019 and inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in late fall 2019. While no official dates have been announced, the opening is highly anticipated and is sure to draw large crowds of people wanting to explore planet Batuu. The land will feature two new attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance along with various merchandise and food & beverage options.

Join Off to Neverland Travel® and Adventures by Disney® as they adventure together in Germany! Two of our Magic Makers® , Tara Radulski and Karen Godeau, will be sharing their experiences throughout this fabulous 9 day / 8 night tour right here with you! Just keep checking back right here on this page as they update their experiences with us below as time permits.

In addition to this Germany itinerary, Adventures by Disney® offers group guided vacation experiences to destinations on six continents. These hassle-free family vacations provide extraordinary and customized experiences coupled with the exceptional service guests have come to expect from Disney Destinations. It’s this attention to every detail that has earned Adventures by Disney® recognition by numerous travel organizations for its excellence in family tourism. CLICK HERE for more information on the current offerings.

I recently had the amazing opportunity to travel on an Adventures by Disney® Danube River Cruise with my 7-year-old daughter and my parents to celebrate my mother’s 70th birthday. This was the IDEAL way to visit the historical cities throughout Hungary, Austria and Germany for all of us! Imagine only having to unpack once, in a luxury room, on an incredible river ship; no lugging luggage on and off busses, trains and planes, no having to entertain kids on multiple train, bus or plane rides and receiving top of the line customer service and gourmet food and beverages at every meal. It truly was a hassle free, active and luxury vacation full of history, architecture, fun and laughs!

We flew from the USA to Budapest, Hungary to embark on the luxurious AmaViola River Cruise Ship and we were immediately greeted by one of four Disney-trained Adventure Guides. Paola, Dean, Danny and Stephanie were the Adventure Guides on our adventure (we had 93 guests onboard). I think of them as a mix of tour guide, entertainer, concierge, director of fun, keeper of children, storyteller and most of all friend. They truly made this trip special, they set up interactive, engaging, hands on shore excursions that were fun for all ages from youngest (5 years old on our cruise) to the grandparents on board. While the adults had private tours of castles and palaces by superb storytellers, our Adventure Guides took the kids on their own tours to play dress up, make cookies and play all while learning the history of some amazing places. Nightly entertainment onboard the AmaViola in the lovely lounge is also hosted by our Adventure Guides – we sang karaoke, danced, laughed and more. My daughter cried when we hugged our Adventure Guides goodbye at the end of the vacation – she, and all of us felt like they were family!

We visited cities each day along the Danube river and had options for excursions like bike rides along the river, walking tours of cities along cobblestone streets, archery at a medieval castle, visiting the Salt Mines, engaging on a Sound of Music tour, several castle and palace tours, food and wine tastings at a family owned apricot farm and winery and more. There is also the option to simply enjoy the port visits on your own – the AmaViola staff provided maps and gave suggestions for each stop!

Onboard the AmaViola, lunch and dinner each day was a foodie’s delight! Gourmet meals, served by the most attentive and friendly servers with choices galore including local wines (different each day) and draft beer. There’s even the option of dining at the Chef’s Table (no extra cost) for a 7 course, wine pairing meal. While the adults dine in the gorgeous dining room for dinner, the kids have the option of dining in the lounge on a kids buffet with entertainment and the Adventure Guides. Breakfast was also delicious with an option of a buffet or a la carte and even mimosas! Daily “tea” was served in the lounge with appetizers, fresh fruit, cakes and cookies. Many “extra” fun food events were also included like ice cream parties, cocktail receptions, Palinka (Hungarian Schnapps) tastings, a private Oktoberfest celebration and more.

Talking with the other guests on our final day as we traveled to the beautiful city of Munich, Germany, everybody agreed that it was their favorite family vacation ever (and many of the guests have traveled extensively and all over the world). I agree, it was absolutely an incredible experience. I can’t wait to try a Christmas Market river cruise and would love to sail the Rhine river with Adventures by Disney®. My daughter still talks about the castles and palaces she visited along with our Adventure Guides on a daily basis – and we’ve been home a month!

They are specials running NOW for these Adventures by Disney® Danube River Cruises!! Don’t miss this opportunity, ask your Magic Maker® for more information!

On July 19th, Disneyland® Resort will launch a new service called Disney MaxPass inside their parks!

Disney MaxPass combines two popular Disneyland® Resort services to help your day in the parks be as magical as it can be.

Disney PhotoPass – Disney MaxPass gives you unlimited downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass photos from your day in the park. This includes photos taken on select attractions, during select Character dining experiences, and even all normal and Magic Shots taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers.

Disney FASTPASS – Disney MaxPass also enables mobile FASTPASS booking and redemption times via the Disneyland® app. No more walking over to the attraction – simply make a FASTPASS selection (subject to availability) using the app and then scan your code at the entrance when it’s time to experience the attraction!

Current attractions using Disney FASTPASS service include:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

California Screamin’

Goofy’s Sky School

Grizzly River Run

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Haunted Mansion

Indiana Jones™ Adventure

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Radiator Springs Racers

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

Soarin’ Around the World

Space Mountain

Splash Mountain

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

Toy Story Midway Mania

Disney MaxPass will be offered for an introductory price of $10 a day (additional pricing options available for Disneyland® Resort Annual Passholders) and can be added in advance or once inside the park. The option of using the existing Disney FASTPASS service at the kiosks is still available at no additional cost.

Contact your Magic Maker® for more details!

You are strongly advised to check the day’s FASTPASS ticket availability and other Park details before purchasing Disney MaxPass or using a Park ticket with Disney MaxPass as FASTPASS tickets for your preferred attractions may not be available at the time of purchase or use. FASTPASS tickets are limited and availability is not guaranteed. FASTPASS tickets may be obtained only while you are in the Parks and may not be available for entertainment through Disney MaxPass. An experience that does not have Disney FASTPASS® availability at a kiosk will not be available using Disney MaxPass. The Disney MaxPass benefit will expire at the end of the day or when the Passport it is associated with expires, as applicable. Disney MaxPass is nonrefundable, nontransferable, may not be redeemed for cash and is subject to other restrictions. Price, terms, entitlements, attractions and entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Passholders who purchase the Disney MaxPass benefit may not use the value of any separate ticket media toward the purchase price of Disney MaxPass.

Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the PhotoPass terms. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos captured during the day your Disney MaxPass is used or during the validity dates of your Passport, as applicable, must be linked to your Disney account and may be downloaded pursuant to the expiration policy. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Downloads are restricted to personal use by Disney account holder only and may not be used for a commercial purpose. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Message, data and roaming rates may apply for the Disneyland app. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.

On December 2nd a new dining experience launches at Walt Disney World® Resort, the Highway in the Sky Dine-Around.

The Highway in the Sky Dine-Around is an exclusive dining experience that transports you around Seven Seas Lagoon to Walt Disney World® Resort’s three monorail resort hotels for a culinary experience you are not soon to forget.

Your Highway in the Sky Dine-Around culinary experience will begin at The Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. After checking in, you’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail before priority boarding the monorail for the next stop on your journey.

Stop number two will be at Disney’s Polynesian Resort where the spirit of Aloha will greet you with South Pacific inspired drinks and appetizers.

Once your ‘visit to the islands’ is over, you’ll board the monorail yet again to continue your journey to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This Victorian Era beach resort is home to the award-winning Citricos, where you will enjoy a delectable meal with wine. Afterwards, the lavish lobby will host you for wine and artisanal cheese.

The final stop on your journey around Seven Seas Lagoon will be Disney’s Contemporary Resort where you can unwind with desserts and coffee on a private patio with Cinderella Castle and Magic Kingdom® Park fireworks as the picturesque backdrop.

Highway in the Sky Dine-Around will be offered on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays (except from December 23 to December 31) beginning December 2nd. Reservations are already open and our Magic Makers® are ready to help you plan the ultimate dining experience! The cost is $150 plus tax. Gratuity and valet parking is included!

No one cares more about your trip than you do…except our Magic Makers®! Contact us today to begin planning the magic of your next Disney Destination vacation.

Before we all know it, children will be trading in book bags and school clothes for suitcases and flip-flops. Summer vacation season is looming just out of our windshields!

When it comes to summer travel, we know that the opportunities are truly limitless. Last summer alone my family traveled to New York City, Washington, D.C., Santa Rosa Beach, New Hampshire, and Texas over the course of three months. Our nation is full of amazing destinations with fantastic experiences all waiting for us to enjoy them.

Yet, even with so many amazing places to see and things to do we are continually drawn back to one place annually, Walt Disney World® Resort in central Florida. I could share with you dozens of reasons why, but in the end it can all be paired down to one thing, the Disney difference.

While it is possible to explain the Disney difference, it is really something that has to be experienced to fully realize what makes it so special.

I remember one trip in particular a few summers back when things weren’t necessarily going just as we had hoped or planned. Our youngest son had become sick near the end of our stay (those of you with young children know just how ‘un-magical’ this can be).

Following a field trip to the local urgent care facility, we made the decision to attempt to salvage what we could with one last day in the parks before heading home. We were not in Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Park very long before we found ourselves in the now-familiar nurses station near the front of the park.

Our son had not improved, and we needed a quiet, calm place to administer his medicine. The nurses allowed us use of one of the rooms. Most of our attempts at getting our toddler to take his medicine were futile, but after a decent amount of time trying alas it seemed we were finally making progress.

Unfortunately, the medicine did not stay in him long, as he decided to ‘erupt’ the meds along with everything else in his stomach all over himself, my wife and the room.

Last. Day. Ruined.

That is, until one of Disney’s Nurses entered the room and witnessed what had transpired.

As quickly as she entered, she disappeared (just as I would have). Only a few moments later she returned with a slip of paper in her hand as we were attempting to clean up. The paper was a voucher, for new outfits not only for my son but for my wife as well.

They could have easily witnessed the semi-grotesque scene, offered their own apologies and let us go on our way back to the resort.

They were not content with that. They saw an opportunity to make magic happen in the middle of a miserable experience, and they seized the moment and acted on it.

The Disney difference.

It is going the extra mile when it isn’t necessary. It is creating magic in not-so-magical moments. It is pixie dust being sprinkled onto unexpected parts of your trip.

As a family, we have been to a lot of places and experienced a lot of things, and consistently no one does it like Disney Destinations does it.

So. As we head into another busy summer travel season, I implore you to consider experiencing the Disney difference for yourself. See just what it is that keeps the Froman family, and countless other families around the globe, returning to Walt Disney World® Resort year in, and year out.

The magic starts now, as our Magic Makers® are ready to help you experience just what the Disney difference is all about.

Since 2005, many Walt Disney World® Resort fans around the world have stayed connected to the “Most Magical Place on Earth” through the fan-favorite podcast WDW Today.

Their 1,492 prior episodes have been a source of joy, memories, excitement and anticipation for countless listeners. Covering various topics around Walt Disney World® Resort, the WDW Today Podcast has become the go-to source for news, information, discussions, entertainment and more for many.

In Episode 1489 the WDW Today Podcast team revealed where the future of the podcast was headed. Today, that future becomes the present as the legacy of the WDW Today podcast continues to move forward with an all new cast!

Logan Sekulow, Terry Weaver, “The Nature Boy” Will Haynes and fan favorite Len Testa will be carrying the torch for the WDW Today Podcast into the future! With an amazing cast and some exciting plans, the best truly is yet to come with the WDW Today Podcast!

Our Off to Neverland Travel® team is excited to say that we have come alongside the new team as the official travel agency of the WDW TodayPodcast!

Today marks the publication of Episode 1493 of the recently ‘refurbished’ WDW Today Podcast…and it is fantastic! [You Can Listen Here]

In Episode 1493 the torch has been passed as WDW Today welcomes Logan Sekulow, Terry Weaver and “The Nature Boy” Will Haynes. In this episode you will be introduced to the new crew, play a fun game of Quote Quiz, preview the month of January and wrap it all up with Listener Questions with Len Testa.

A year and a half ago I finally got to check off something that is on nearly every Disneyphile’s bucket-list, a visit to Disneyland® Park in Anaheim.

It was amazing.

We got to walk in Walt’s footsteps down Main Street, U.S.A. We were able to see the bench that Walt sat on when he ‘dreamed up’ this magical place while sitting in Griffith Park. We rode a loop around Disneyland® Park in the Lilly Belle. We were able to see the small Christmas tree lit in the window of Walt’s apartment.

For a Disney nerd like me, it was all so surreal.

We spent 7 days at Disneyland® Resort; immersed in Disneyland® Park, Disney California Adventure® and the resorts. I took a back-stage tour in Disneyland® Park and enjoyed an amazing dining experience at Carthay Circle Restaurant. Our group had private access to Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers prior to the park opening one morning.

It was a dream trip.

Of all of the amazing experiences we had, by far my favorite moment of the trip was sitting on the ground, as a family, in Disney California Adventure Park® eating dinner next to a row of dirty strollers.

It was magical.

Disney California Adventure Park® has a remarkable show called World of Color. It is a fantastic display of lights, water, projection and fire; all orchestrated in a way only Disney can do.

To ensure that we had the best spot possible without a FastPass, we set up camp about an hour and a half prior to the show in a stroller ‘parking lot’. Once we set up camp, I trekked across the park to hunt down and drag home ‘supper’ for my family.

Up until this point our entire trip had been non-stop. Meals were rushed. Bathroom breaks were rushed. Snacks were rushed. All in a pursuit of conquering all that we could while we were at Disneyland® Resort.

So, following 7 days of intensity, here we sat as a family, dining on paper plates with plastic utensils…on the ground…in the middle of a theme park. This was our last night at Disneyland® Resort.

Our view consisted of the white rails in front of us, the dirty strollers beside us, and the knees and shins of other families pushing on with the same intensity we used all week.

We were together. We were talking and reflecting. We were still.

It was good, it was real good.

As we talked, we all recollected our favorite things we’d seen or done over the week. Our five year old was very quick to announce that sitting on the ground eating together was one of his favorite ‘things’ we did on our trip.

We exposed him to so many things that many five year olds would have loved to have done. He was on a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip by many families’ standards. He met the Fab 5, he rode all the rides he wanted, he drank way too much coke and ate way too much sugar.

Still, his standout, was sitting on the ground, as a family. Eating. Sharing. Laughing.

It was ours too. It was the best seat in the house.

Sometimes we try to pack so many experiences and things into a Disney Destination trip to bring our children joy; when all they really want to do is be still with their mommy and daddy. The trip was great, and he had a blast no doubt; but to him, it was much greater to just ‘be’ with mommy and daddy a while.

To eat off of a dirty ground with plastic utensils.

To laugh and to share.

To be a family.

We can all get wrapped up in the countless things there are to do at Disney Destinations that we completely miss the special moments we get to share with those we love in front of a magical backdrop.

Our best advice to you on your next trip?

Slow down, relax, embrace and enjoy everything from the best seat in the house; in the moment right where you are at.

Disneyland® Resort is often overlooked and overshadowed by other great Disney Destinations. However after spending time exploring Disneyland® Resort, I wanted to share a few things that make this Disney Destination truly special and worth the visit to Southern California.

5) Characters, characters, characters: As with all Disney Destinations you will see several Disney characters but at Disneyland® Resort the interaction is a little different. If you stay on property, you have a good chance of running into a character in your resort lobby. You just might see Goofy flipping through the park maps in your hotel lobby, Minnie Mouse dancing with a guest or two, or Dale reading a guest’s daily newspaper. In the parks you might see some characters that aren’t always out at other Disney Destinations as often, like the Wicked Queen from Snow White who can sometimes be found hanging out at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Then there is the Storyteller’s character breakfast that often has Nieko from Pochantas and the bears from Brother Bear for you to meet. So much fun!

4)Do you want to see more than Disneyland® Resort? It is easy to spend a few days at Disney Parks and add-on a few other Southern California attractions to make this a truly one of a kind family vacation. You can add on a day or two at the beach, the Aquarium of the Pacific, or Universal Studios Hollywood and more. You can travel a little further south and see Sea World, Legoland, or the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Want to spend more than a day in San Diego, ask your Magic Maker® about adding on a stay in San Diego. Disneyland® Resort and Southern California have more to offer than you might think and your Magic Maker® would love to help you create just the right package.

3) Location, location, location: At Disneyland® Resort you can easily walk from Disneyland® Park to Disney California Adventure® Park in less than 5 minutes. This means park hopping is an absolute breeze! There are 3 Disneyland® Resort properties that are all within a 10 minute walk or less to the parks and several wonderful Good Neighbor Hotel options that also offer the convenience of just walking over to the parks allowing you to maximize your time in the parks!

2) Two words: Cars Land. You know those moments that you just can’t find the right words to describe your emotions? Walking into Cars Land for the first time is just like that. As soon as you see the Cars Land sign, you are transported right into Radiator Springs. You’ll see Sarge’s, Flo’s V-8 Cafe, and Casa Della Tires. You might even get to meet Lightening McQueen or Mater at the Cozy Cone Motel. Go a little before dusk and just wait to see the all the lights come on in Radiator Springs. Be sure to ride Radiator Springs Racers while you are there as that is simply not to be missed.

1) Did you know that Disneyland® Park is the only park that Walt Disney walked in and saw to completion? His legacy and care can be seen throughout Disneyland® Park and you know that it was his attention to detail that makes Disneyland® Resort what it is today. There are a few special moments you can take in while visiting Disneyland® Park that illustrate Walt Disney’s passion for this place. Take a few minutes out of your day to see Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. As you walk into this attraction you will see the very bench that Walt Disney sat on when he conceived of the place that families could go and be entertained together. When you walk past the Fire Station, look up at the center window and you will see the light left on in Walt Disney’s memory. Disneyland® Park has a special and unique feel to it and I truly believe it is because you can sense the legacy and spirit that lives on here.

As you can see there is quite a bit of magic to be found on the west coast, and this is just scratching the surface!

Contact your Magic Maker® today to book your Disneyland® Resort and Southern California family vacation so you can experience the magic for yourself, creating a lifetime of memories together.

At Off to Neverland Travel® our Magic Makers® find a lot of joy in helping make your vacation magical. It is this desire for excellence and passion for Disney Destinations that brought us together; yet it is our time working together that has created a family.

We are truly thankful for our family of Magic Makers®, and to be honest, we think you should know just how awesome they are.

To help you get to know the amazing men and women that make up our Off to Neverland Travel® Magic Maker® team we are excited to launch an ongoing series of posts celebrating the lives behind the magic!

We hope that these posts will give you a more intimate look at just how awesome our team is!

This week, we celebrated with Magic Maker® Jennifer Hyland (TX) as her son’s 5th grade football team went undefeated and brought home the championship! Way to go Hyland Family! The Hyland’s weren’t the only ones celebrating their children this week, as Magic Maker® Courtney Agnello’s (NJ) children brought home two report cards with all A’s! We wouldn’t expect anything else from Courtney’s children! We are truly excited for Magic Maker® Robin Kellogg’s (TX) family as their High School senior is entertaining a lot of great academic and athletic offers for college!

We know many of you experienced the extreme snow that hit Buffalo, NY; for Magic Maker® Lisa Krueger (NY) it was an opportunity to enjoy 4 snow days together with her family! While Lisa was in the snow, Magic Maker® Heather Rodgers was in the middle of an amazing family trip to Hawaii! You’ll have the opportunity to read about her trip soon!

It was also a big week for Magic Maker® Megan Paradiso (NJ) who started a MOMpreneurs group earlier this year; she recently reached 150 members! Megan is striving to help mom’s find a good work/life/mom balance! Magic Maker® Mandy Girven (NC) also had big week as she just started a new position at a private college near her home and Magic Maker® Natalie Corey (AL) found herself busy at a fun and successful neighborhood event, a ladies night sip and shop!

Magic Maker® Julie Paolino (NY) just welcomed a niece into the world, on Mickey Mouse’s birthday! It sounds like we have a new Magic Maker® in the making! Not only was new life welcomed into the world, Magic Maker® Marcie Munoz (TX) celebrated 18 years of marriage with her hubby and Magic Maker® Melissa Ludwig (OR) and her husband just closed on their first house! Magic Maker® Lisa Gillissen (OH) gathered a group together to pack shoeboxes for Project Christmas Child; we are so excited about Lisa’s passion to make a difference in the lives of others!